This Forgotten Denzel Washington Movie With 92% On RT That's On Streaming Is Nothing Like You'd Expect From Him
An overlooked and unappreciated Denzel Washington movie from the early 1990s offers a rare glimpse at the Academy Award-winning actor in a classic romantic dramedy. Although Washington was surprisingly snubbed from a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the upcoming 2025 Oscars for his role as Macrinus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator II, he remains one of the most acclaimed actors of all time. Known mainly for his crime thrillers, action blockbusters, and prestige dramas, Washington is a monumental figure in cinematic history.
Washington emerged during the 1980s and rose to prominence on the critically acclaimed medical drama series St. Elsewhere (1982–1988). This led him to become a celebrated movie star in 1989's Civil War film Glory, which earned Washington his first Supporting Actor Oscar. While Washington would go on to star in dozens of instant classics such as American Gangster (2007), Training Day (2001), and Malcolm X (1992), his 1991 romantic dramedy marks one of his best early film appearances in a mostly uncharted genre.
Denzel Washington's 1991 Movie Showed A Different Side To Him
Mississippi Masala Is One Of Denzel's Early 1990s Romantic Films
1991's Mississippi Masala is very much a forgotten movie in Denzel Washington's extensive filmography. It's a bit of a hidden gem that was very well-received as a romantic comedy-drama upon release, earning a Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%. Audiences are not used to seeing a lighter side of Denzel in his performances and wouldn't commonly associate him with romance or comedy films. During the early stages of his career, Washington took on some lighter roles in romance films, such as 1993's Much Ado About Nothing and 1990's Mo' Better Blues.
In Mississippi Masala, Washington plays Demetrius, a carpet cleaner in Mississippi who forms an unlikely yet passionate romance with Sarita Choudhury's Mina. Mina's family was exiled from Uganda under the dictatorship of Idi Amin, which brought them to Mississippi.
Mississippi Masala has plenty of lighthearted parts that shine through the onscreen chemistry between Choudhury and Washington.
Demetrius and Mina's romance stirs up trouble for them and their conservative, prejudiced families. While the film deals with heavy issues such as racism, Mississippi Masala has plenty of lighthearted parts that shine through the onscreen chemistry between Choudhury and Washington.
Denzel Washington Should Make More Comedy Movies
His Comedic Timing & Delivery Are Top-Notch Even In Dramas
Denzel has spent the better part of the last 10 years either making Oscar-contending films such as Fences and The Tragedy of Macbeth or franchise installments like The Equalizer 3 and Gladiator II. Washington's most recent comedy adjacent film is the buddy cop action thriller 2 Guns alongside Mark Wahlberg.
While he hasn't done many true comedy movies or comedy hybrids, Washington has played dramatic characters who can be comedic, such as his iconic Training Day antagonist Alonzo. Considering how great Denzel Washington's comedic timing and delivery are, it'd be good for him to expand back into comedy movies.
Mississippi Masala
- Release Date
- February 5, 1992
- Runtime
- 118 Minutes
- Director
- Mira Nair
- Writers
- Sooni Taraporevala
- Producers
- Michael Nozik
Cast
Demetrius Williams
Sarita ChoudhuryMina
Roshan SethJay- Sharmila TagoreKinnu
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